Sen. Boozman named AOA Optometrist of the Year

SALT LAKE CITY — John Boozman, OD, an Arkansas senator, was recognized as the American Optometric Association's Optometrist of the year here at the Opening General Session of Optometry's Meeting.

A private practitioner for 30 years, Dr. Boozman was the first optometrist and AOA member to serve as a U.S. senator in more than 50 years. As a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, Dr. Boozman was involved in the fight against illegal contact lens sales. He cosponsored bills aimed at eliminating barriers to patient access, including the Optometric Equity in Medicaid Act and the National Health Service Corps Improvement Act. According to the AOA, he helped secure passage in the U.S. House of Representatives of the Vision Care for Kids Act and was instrumental in the creation of a national Vision Center of Excellence for American military personnel.

Brian Klinger

Brian Klinger, OD, was announced as the recipient of the AOA's Distinguished Service Award, which is given to a member optometrist who has served one's patients, community and profession with distinction throughout his or her whole career, AOA President Joe E. Ellis, OD, told the crowd.

Dr. Klinger is a 40-year member of the AOA and the New Hampshire Optometric Association (NHOA), and he now serves as executive director of the NHOA. He was instrumental in 90% of optometrists in the state becoming NHOA members.

"The take-home message of this entire program is that what optometry needs and deserves from every one of us is an extended span of dedication to moving our profession forward," Dr. Klinger said as he received his award. "If we hit roadblocks we must not quit, slow down or lose sight of goals. It's not a question of having any special abilities. There's not an optometrist in this room or at this congress who's not able to do things to improve the status of our profession for the benefit of our members and our patients."

The AOA's Young Optometrist of the Year award recognizes an optometrist in practice 10 years or less who has shown remarkable leadership skills while serving the profession, their patients and their community, Dr. Ellis said.

Laura Windsor

This award winner, Laura Windsor, OD, is a second-generation optometrist who developed a passion for helping those who struggle with low vision. She and her father own three practices in central Indiana.

"Patients from all over the world fly in to see us because of what we have available [in the way of low vision services]," Dr. Windsor said in a video that was shown during the ceremony.

She wrote a book on using technology to improve practice management and produced a DVD on age-related macular degeneration.

Shoni Sharp

Shoni Sharp, CPOT, was named the Paraoptometric of the Year for her service to the profession and her community. She passed all three levels of the AOA Commission on Optometric Exams to become a Certified Optometric Technician and is involved in volunteer organizations locally and in the AOA.

Ms. Sharp told the audience that when she took a job in this field, "I had no idea the amazing transformation from job to career that would occur some day."

"You can make a difference every day in people's lives," she said.